► This study presented six typically developing children between the ages of five to eight with familiarization (baseline) in a mock scanner after which behavioural intervention…
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▼ This study presented six typically developing children between the ages of five to eight with familiarization (baseline) in a mock scanner after which behavioural intervention ensued, in a non-concurrent multiple baseline design. The behavioural intervention included reinforcement for the contingency of lying motionless, and response cost (the removal of desirable stimuli) as a punishment contingency for movement. During baseline, all children showed a fair amount of head motion in the mock scanner. During intervention, small to large reductions in head motion were observed for five of the six participants. Therefore, use of the mock scanner and the reinforcement/punishment contingencies, may be an aid used prior to actual MRI/fMRI scans for children between the ages of five to eight: it is cost effective, may require only a session or two of intervention to be effective, and the potentially dangerous side effects and/or disabilities of sedation/anaesthesia can be avoided.
Advisors/Committee Members: Yu, C.T. (Psychology) Hansen, N. (Disability Studies) (supervisor), Martin, T. (Psychology) Anderson, M. (Psychology) Hrycaiko, D. (Kinesiology and Recreation Management) (examiningcommittee).

Hatton, D. (2014). I’m still here: behavioural interventions to control for motion with typically developing children during MRI and fMRI. (Masters Thesis). University of Manitoba. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23999

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Hatton, Deborah. “I’m still here: behavioural interventions to control for motion with typically developing children during MRI and fMRI.” 2014. Masters Thesis, University of Manitoba. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23999.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Hatton, Deborah. “I’m still here: behavioural interventions to control for motion with typically developing children during MRI and fMRI.” 2014. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Hatton D. I’m still here: behavioural interventions to control for motion with typically developing children during MRI and fMRI. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of Manitoba; 2014. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23999.

Council of Science Editors:

Hatton D. I’m still here: behavioural interventions to control for motion with typically developing children during MRI and fMRI. [Masters Thesis]. University of Manitoba; 2014. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23999

The main purpose of the study was to investigate how highly educated (university-educated) Taiwanese women acquire, transfer and transform their cultural capital through their middle-class…
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▼

The main purpose of the study was to investigate how highly educated (university-educated) Taiwanese women acquire, transfer and transform their cultural capital through their middle-class habitus to seek a self-acceptable social position in Finnish society. The study s theoretical frameworks have drawn on Bourdieu s concept of habitus, capital, field, and practice, and incorporate an intersectionality perspective into the data analysis.
This study employed a feminist standpoint epistemology in terms of epistemic commitments and used narrative inquiry with thematic analysis as the methodological strategy. Narrative inquiry as a methodological approach was used to elicit the stories of ten Taiwanese women who married Finns and immigrated to Finland. The data were produced through life-story interviews conducted in the women s first language, Chinese or Taiwanese in 2006. The discussion of the findings has been organized according to the three key themes: employability, underemployment, and mothering.
The common pattern of downward social mobility for first generation immigrants was found to repeat among these highly educated Taiwanese women, a pattern is not independent of questions of race/ethnicity in the Finnish labor market. Despite the weak link between cultural capital and employment outcomes, many of them have had no choice but to stay optimistic by improving their never-good-enough Finnish language skills and acquiring more education or training. Some of the women have turned to care work beyond their previous training and formal qualifications; they have made compromises, have retrained and work as practical nurses due to a lack of employment opportunities in their fields.
Acculturation and maintaining their heritage within the Finnish context have become problematic for many of the women and their mothering practices. In order to secure and maintain a better position for their children, the women raise their children as Finnish children by distancing themselves from their Taiwanese cultural heritage and espousing Finnishness. Paradoxically, these highly educated Taiwanese women are confined to a marginal position in the Finnish labor market, but on the other hand, middle-class privilege is identified in their mothering practices in terms of parental involvement in their children s education. Their home-based and school-based parental involvement hold the greatest hope for their children s realization of their full potential and ultimately maintaining their status as middle-class members of the dominant group. The stories of these Taiwanese women disclose how the intersections of social class, gender and race/ethnicity (re)produce inequalities in a Finnish context.

► In the absence of a cure and/or vaccine, the best approach to HIV is to focus on prevention. However, preventative measures that are presently available…
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▼ In the absence of a cure and/or vaccine, the best approach to HIV is to focus on prevention. However, preventative measures that are presently available in Nigeria do not target persons with intellectual disability despite their vulnerability to HIV infection. This study sought to compare the HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual practices of mildly/moderately intellectually impaired learners (IIL) and mainstream learners (ML) in Nigeria; to explore the contextual factors informing these, as well as both groups‗ exposure to HIV education. It also tested the relevance of the I-Change Model in predicting sexual abstinence among learners with intellectual disability. Findings can assist in developing tailored HIV prevention education for Nigerian learners with intellectual impairment.
This cross-sectional, comparative study utilised mixed methods to investigate HIV knowledge, attitudes, and sexual practices among mildly/moderately IIL and ML in Nigeria. Mildly/moderately IIL (300) and ML (300) within the age range of 12-19 years in special and regular schools completed a questionnaire based on the I-Change Model. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used with learners to explore contextual factors informing their HIV knowledge, risk perception, sexual behaviours and access to HIV education and services. Key informant interviews were used as independent sources of the same information with their teachers.
Learners with intellectual impairment were less aware of HIV/AIDS than their non-disabled peers (p < 0.001), had lower HIV knowledge scores (p < 0.001) and lower HIV risk perception scores (p < 0.001). Sexual experience was reported by 79 (26.3%) of the IIL sample compared to 48 (16.0%) of the ML sample (p = 0.002). Girls with intellectual disability were 3.71 times more likely to report a history of sexual abuse than non-disabled girls (p = 0.041). Inconsistent condom use with casual partners (p < 0.001) and non-use of condoms during the last sexual activity (p < 0.001) was higher in IIL. The I-Change Model was most effective in predicting sexual abstinence among IIL, particularly regarding factors related to motivation and intention.
Intellectually impaired learners were more vulnerable to HIV infection due to neglect, poverty, sexual abuse/exploitation, stigmatisation, pressure from non-disabled peers, denial of HIV
education, and inaccessible HIV-related services. Teachers only provided them with sexuality and HIV education when sexual activity was suspected and/or from age 18. The content of such education comprised mainly warnings, misinformation and corporal punishment to instil fear and desexualise them. Thus, this group of learners was limited in the way they experienced and expressed their sexuality. Unlike with their non-disabled peers, teachers attributed sexual activity among IIL solely to natural urges without emotional involvement. Contrary to teachers‘ opinions, some IIL were involved in symbiotic, loving relationships with their II peers. In addition, those that were not yet in such…
Advisors/Committee Members: Pillay, Basil Joseph (advisor).

4.
Selmer, Colette Anne.An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle.

► The purpose of this research was to examine some major themes of stress, coping styles/strategies, and psychological adjustment to breast cancer, of 116 English speaking,…
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▼ The purpose of this research was to examine some major themes of stress, coping
styles/strategies, and psychological adjustment to breast cancer, of 116 English speaking,
low socioeconomic status Indian South African women at different
developmental stages of the life-cycle.
The sample was drawn from a population of hospital outpatients receiving treatment
for breast cancer at three academic hospitals in Durban, South Africa. Convenience
sampling was employed, and a battery of six questionnaires was completed in
addition to the collection of demographic data. Descriptive statistics, correlational
analysis, multivariate analysis and regression analysis was used to analyse the data.
The results suggested both similarities and differences between the younger and older
groups of patients with regard to the disruption of life-tasks by breast cancer.
However, the younger group, on average, experienced significantly greater disruption
with regard to the following ‘themes of stress’: interpersonal relationships,
achievement-oriented goals/activities, body or sexual image and integrity, and
existential issues. In addition, the younger patients, on average, experienced a greater
degree of overall disruption to life-tasks. The disruption of life-tasks was only
associated with psychological morbidity in the younger patients, and the overall
extent of disruption to life-tasks was shown to directly contribute to the younger
patients’ depressive symptomatology. Both groups demonstrated elevated stress
reactions and psychological symptoms in comparison to norms generally, however
the younger patients demonstrated higher levels of ‘psychological’ stress and
depressive symptomatology. With regard to coping styles, the younger group, on
average, demonstrated a greater prevalence of ‘fighting spirit’ and ‘anxious
preoccupation’, while the older group contained a significantly greater percentage of
patients demonstrating a problematic combination of coping styles. The coping style
‘helpless or hopeless’ was associated with various stress reactions and psychological
symptoms for both groups, although this association was less prevalent for the older
group. The coping strategy ‘escape-avoidance’ was associated with overall
psychological distress only for the younger group. The results suggested that there
may be other, more significant predictor variables for psychological distress in older
breast cancer patients – a potential area for future research.
Advisors/Committee Members: Schlebusch, Lourens (advisor).

Selmer, C. A. (2015). An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle. (Thesis). University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11791

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Selmer, Colette Anne. “An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle.” 2015. Thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11791.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Selmer, Colette Anne. “An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle.” 2015. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Selmer CA. An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2015. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11791.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Selmer CA. An investigation of psychological stress, coping styles/strategies and psychological adjustments in a sample of Indian South African women with breast cancer in different developmental stages of the life-cycle. [Thesis]. University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2015. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10413/11791

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

An evaluative study to determine the Impact of Selected Complementary Therapies (Relaxation and Foot Massage) on the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients was…
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An evaluative study to determine the Impact of
Selected Complementary Therapies (Relaxation and Foot Massage) on
the Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients was carried out at
the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum by Sister Vijaya (Aleyamma
Philip) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy under the Mahatma Gandhi
University of Kottayam. The major objectives for the study were the
following:- 1. To describe the level of anxiety and depression
using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), in patients
with breast cancer who are being treated with radiation treatment
to chest wall and drainage areas. 2. To describe the quality of
life using Quality of Life- Breast Cancer Version (QOL-BC), in
patients with breast cancer who are being treated with radiation
treatment to chest wall and drainage areas. 3. To prepare and
validate the modules on two complementary therapies - Simple
Rhythmic Breathing Relaxation (SRBR) and Foot Massage (FM) 4. To
evaluate the effect of Simple Rhythmic Breathing Relaxation (SRBR)
and Foot Massage (FM) in terms of reduction of HAD Scores
(including individual factors) and improvement in QOL-BC Scores
(total and various domains and factors) in patients with breast
cancer who are being treated with radiation treatment to chest wall
and drainage areas. In the present study two different
interventional therapies (i) Simple Rhythmic Breathing Relaxation
(R Group) and (ii) Foot Massage (FM Group) prepared by the
investigator were tried out on Breast Cancer Patients undergoing
radiation to the chest wall and drainage areas, to reduce their
anxiety and depression as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and
Depression Scale (HADS) of Zigmond and Snaith (1983) and thereby to
increase their level of quality of life (QOL) as measured by the
Quality of Life- Breast Cancer Version (QOL-BC) of Ferrell, et al
(1995).

► The purpose of EXPRT was to assess the feasibility of community-based exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for fibromyalgia (FM). Feasibility was determined by recruitment,…
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▼ The purpose of EXPRT was to assess the feasibility of community-based exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for fibromyalgia (FM). Feasibility was determined by recruitment, retention, acceptability of treatment, and limited efficacy. Twenty-one FM patients underwent a 12-week intervention involving three supervised group-based exercise sessions and one CBT session per week at a YMCA. The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R) and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) were used to assess FM-related outcomes. Attendance, change in exercise minutes, and participant satisfaction were assessed to evaluate acceptability of treatment. Twelve participants completed follow-up assessment, yielding 57% retention. A total of 387 patients were screened, of which 21 (5.4%) were eligible and participated in the study. Within group analyses revealed statistically significant improvement in both outcome measures (p’s < 0.05). Mean number of sessions attended was 15.14 10.46 out of 36 sessions. Average walking time per session increased from 11.8 to 22.6 minutes. Participants reported feeling satisfied with the exercise sessions, CBT sessions, and their pain management post-treatment. Although the reported effects on pain measures are likely inflated and recruitment and retention posed significant challenges, it appears combined community-based exercise and CBT may be well-tolerated and potentially beneficial for the management of FM.

► The study of behavioural variation and covariation has become very popular in the last decade.And yet the evolutionary tools used to understand how selection and…
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▼ The study of behavioural variation and covariation has become very popular in the last decade.And yet the evolutionary tools used to understand how selection and genetic and environmentalvariation shape individual difference in behaviours remain underused. In this thesis I seek toadvance the study of animal personality using the tools of multivariate selection analysis,phenotypic plasticity and quantitative genetics.Here I studied multiple behavioural traits in two water strider (Heteroptera:Gerridae)species, Tenagogerris euphrosyne and Gerris gracilicornis, and examined individual variationin behaviour and behavioural plasticity over time and across situations. I also estimatedmultivariate linear and nonlinear sexual selection on behavioural traits and on individualbehavioural plasticity. Under scramble competition, water strider males differed in their sexualbehaviours and their plasticity across social contexts (Chapter 2). The level of age-relatedbehavioural plasticity also varied according to the type of behaviours and rearing environments(Chapter 3). Individual variation in behavioural plasticity over time or across situationssignificantly affected individual fitness (Chapter 2 and 3). However, with the exception ofsame-sex behaviour of males, there was little genetic variation in behavioural plasticity acrossdevelopment conditions (Chapter 4).I then tested the hypotheses that correlated behaviours (i.e. behavioural syndrome)evolve via correlational selection when certain behavioural combinations enjoy greater fitnessthan others. I found that current patterns of correlational selection were not likely to drive ormaintain the observed correlations underpinning the behavioural syndrome (Chapter 5- 7).While much can be learned about behavioural syndromes and variation in behavioursby resolving the basis of behavioural plasticity, a more complete understanding of howbehavioural variation and covariation arise might be provided by focusing on physiological andgenetic mechanisms as well as contemporary patterns of multivariate selection.
Advisors/Committee Members: Brooks, Robert, Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, UNSW.

► The understanding that humans are bounded in their rationality has been proven to manifest in complex decision making as a result of a limit in…
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▼ The understanding that humans are bounded in their rationality has been proven to manifest in complex decision making as a result of a limit in the amount of information available, the cognitive limitations of the mind and the amount of time available in which to make a decision. Because of this, humans have been known to appeal to heuristics and the rules of thumb (termed 'satisficing‘) when making decisions, resulting in biased probability judgments and not maximizing expected utility. Corporate application of bounded rationality is still very limited. This study builds on and advances the study and application of bounded rationality in corporate environments, using climate change response as a real-life situation, and in a circular fashion help explain some of the debates and paradoxes that agitate researchers from the climate change community. Using a mixed methods comparative case study of two organisations‘ responses to climate change, the study theorises that competitive market forces and the ability of organisations to learn from other organisations limits the levels of 'satisficing‘ in strategic decision making. Instead, the limited amount of information and the fear of the unknown cause organizations to approach the subject cautiously. A tactical interpretive climate change response framework emerges.
Advisors/Committee Members: Kruger, Jan (advisor), Nhamo, Godwell (advisor).

► Behaviour is often an individual’s first line of response to a stimulus, allowing them to adapt to changes and stressors in their environment. An individual’s…
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▼ Behaviour is often an individual’s first line of response to a stimulus, allowing them to adapt to changes and stressors in their environment. An individual’s behaviour is a product of environmental conditions, including local adaptation, rearing experience, and internal processes (e.g. metabolic rate). I examined the effects of early rearing experience, population differences (i.e. local adaptation/selection) and ontogeny on the behavioural repertoire of young yellow perch (Perca flavescens). They were tested in behavioural assays at three time points to quantify activity, exploration, neophilia and antipredator responses over ontogeny. Fitness correlates were used to explain behavioural differences, and survival was quantified to examine the fitness consequences of various behavioural types. Yellow perch show behavioural flexibility for activity and consistency for antipredator responses; their overall behavioural phenotype was characterized by coping styles, with some individuals showing relatively fixed phenotypes and others showing increases in activity, exploration and neophilia over time. An individual’s level of neophilia, degree of behavioural flexibility and their morphology were predictive of mortality.
Advisors/Committee Members: Semeniuk, Christina.

► This empirical double-blind multi-centre empirical study assessed the sources of stress, stress-related symptoms, role of psychosocial moderating variables and the role of micronutrients (specifically the…
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▼ This empirical double-blind multi-centre empirical study assessed the sources of stress, stress-related symptoms, role of psychosocial moderating variables and the role of micronutrients (specifically the effect of intervention with micronutrient supplementation) on stress levels and symptoms in South Africans.
The sample consisted of 300 volunteer, English-speaking South Africans from two centres (KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng) who had predetermined stress levels. The participants were evenly divided between the two centres (N=150 each). The Experimental Group (Active group) who comprised 151 participants received a multivitamin and mineral combination, while the Control Group (Placebo) group received a placebo.
The research dealt with perceived stressors, coping resources and outcomes in the general population (both at baseline and after intervention). Outcome was assessed using standardized self-report instruments which examined stress levels and symptoms, perception of stress levels, anxiety, psychological general well-being and
neurocognitive functions (verbal and visual memory).
Univariate and multivariate correlational analyses were performed to investigate correlations and the predictive value of risk and rescue factors for the outcome variables.
The findings indicate that there were no significant differences in the number of stressors between the two groups at baseline, although they differed in respect of two particular stressors (A>P regarding concern over children's future; P>A regarding life decisions). An interaction of stressors and moderating variables (life orientation and perceived coping incapacity) have an important role in predicting stress and stress outcome, and outcomes themselves may function as stressors. The bidirectional,
circular interactive effects of stressors, moderators and outcomes are important in the stress and coping process. The study failed to find any effect of stress on the neurocognitive functions assessed. No significant treatment effect for the micronutrient was found, but a number of trends in respect of efficacy were suggested by the findings. The findings also suggested particular patterns of interactions in this regard for predicting pre-post differences (delta). Strengths and limitations of the
study are highlighted and implications for intervention in respect of a stress management programme are also discussed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Schlebusch, Lourens (advisor).

► This is the first time that multidisciplinary research has been conducted in South African music venues. The study investigated biopsychosocial health-related variables affecting workers in…
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▼ This is the first time that multidisciplinary research has been conducted in South African music venues. The study investigated biopsychosocial health-related variables affecting workers in music venues giving special attention to sick building syndrome. Monitoring methodologies developed for this investigation can be applied in studies of a wide range of workplace environments. This study also resulted in the design of a questionnaire which provided interpretable data within statistical significance limits. The literature review fully describes the multidisciplinary nature of this research. Long established non-smoking offices were selected as controls. An environmental monitoring system was designed to record conditions whilst questionnaires on staff perceptions were personally administered. Psychosocial variables included job satisfaction, self-esteem, personal confidence and social interaction.Environmental comfort assessments included lighting, carbon dioxide, movement, temperature, relative humidity levels and air movement. Pollution impact monitoring involved noise, respirable
aerosols, benzene, toluene, xylene, benzo(a)pyrene, total volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. Comfort criteria were exceeded in all music venues which caused stress. Only 21,1% of respondents did not experience tiredness. Respiratory infection was higher in music venue staff than in office staff. Average age of staff in music venues was 25 years and 67,37% were smokers. Certain smokers were experiencing
discomfort from tobacco smoke pollution. Tobacco smoke impact was demonstrated: mean benzene level for music venues was 12,9 u/m3 (maximum 42,44 u/m3) and in offices it was 0,606 u/m3 (maximum 1,24 u/m3). Multivariate models for sick building syndrome and allergies
included tobacco smoke odour concern and the tobacco smoke indicators, xylene and toluene. Aerosol levels were 1,75 mg/m3 (maximum 45,98 mg/m3 ) in music venues compared to an office mean of 0,02 mg/m3 (maximum 0,58 mg/m3 ). Contributors were tobacco smoke and theatrical smoke. Burning eyes was the symptom causing most concern for 57,89% of respondents. Symptoms that affected 20% and more of the workers were itchy skin, throat irritation, coughing and difficulty in breathing. Tobacco smoke was considered the main stressor.
Noise level mean for music venues was Neq 99,67 dB (A). Only 34,7% of the staff considered music noise a stressor, with 16,9% concerned about people noise. The percentage that considered their environment to be polluted was 81,06%, however, only 48,42% felt stressed. Virtually all univariate and multivariate associations between psychosocial and psychophysical variables suggest that satisfaction with
psychosocial factors may have a positive influence on staff in places of entertainment.
Advisors/Committee Members: Van Niekerk, W. C. A (advisor), Schlebusch, Lourens (advisor).

► Psychosocial oncology is well established in Europe and in America. Similar initiatives are, however, rare in Africa. On the African continent, psychosocial services are scarce…
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▼ Psychosocial oncology is well established in Europe and in America. Similar
initiatives are, however, rare in Africa. On the African continent, psychosocial
services are scarce and often a luxury although the importance of psychosocial
variables as mediators in the paediatric cancer outcomes have been widely
recognised. The apartheid system in South Africa was instrumental in causing
major disparities in health, education and socioeconomic status. In order to
provide a more holistic service it becomes imperative to assess not only the
psychosocial needs and resources of both children and parents who endure the
disease but also the influence of socio-demographic variables such as race,
educational level and socioeconomic status. This research was limited to
collecting baseline information on how parents and children communicate
about the illness, emotional responses and the psychological resources
that they utilise to deal with the childhood cancer trajectory. The study group
consisted of 100 children between the ages of 5 and 16 years who had been
diagnosed with cancer and one or both parents of those children. Data was
collected through semi-structured interviews and standardised self-report
measures. The results of the study indicate that both parents and children did
not suffer disabling psychopathology, but certainly evidenced symptoms of depression
and anxiety indicative of adjustment difficulties. Communicating
about the illness was generally limited to physiological aspects of the disease
and medically related matters, while emotional issues were rarely articulated.
Children, parents and their siblings relied heavily on medical staff for their
information needs. The age of the child was a significant factor with reference
to amount and complexity of information imparted to children: adolescents
were given more information about the treatment and prognosis; while
younger children were given a limited amount of information. Race,
socioeconomic status and educational levels of parents not only influenced
the meanings and beliefs families developed around the cancer experience, but
also the manner in which they expressed their emotions and the coping strategies that they employed.
Advisors/Committee Members: Schlebusch, Lourens (advisor).

Jithoo, V. (2004). The psychosocial effects of cancer on children and their families. (Doctoral Dissertation). University of KwaZulu-Natal. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8222

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Jithoo, Vinitha. “The psychosocial effects of cancer on children and their families.” 2004. Doctoral Dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8222.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Jithoo, Vinitha. “The psychosocial effects of cancer on children and their families.” 2004. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Jithoo V. The psychosocial effects of cancer on children and their families. [Internet] [Doctoral dissertation]. University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2004. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8222.

Council of Science Editors:

Jithoo V. The psychosocial effects of cancer on children and their families. [Doctoral Dissertation]. University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2004. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10413/8222

▼ Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is
prevalent in the Canadian Forces. Physiotherapists use behavioural
change techniques (BCT) to challenge maladaptive cognitions and
behaviours in the treatment of CNSLBP. The aim of this study was to
determine the range and type of BCT used in the “Back to Fitness”
class at CFB Halifax. A nomenclature integrating a psychology BCT
checklist and relevant physiotherapy literature was used to create
a physiotherapist BCT checklist tool that was piloted in a field
study. A wide range (n=24) and type (cognitive, behavioural and
motivational) of BCT were identified in three settings (lecture,
two exercise sessions). The nomenclature produced in this first
examination of BCT in physiotherapy practice, will be useful for
future research and training. This project revealed an overlap
between psychology and physiotherapy that could lead to improved
interprofessional communication and earlier access to behaviour
change interventions for patients with CNSLBP.
Advisors/Committee Members: Dr. Jill Chorney (external-examiner), Dr. Cheryl Kozey (graduate-coordinator), Dr. Anne Fenety, Dr. Michael Vallis (thesis-reader), Dr. Katherine Harman (thesis-supervisor), Received (ethics-approval), Not Applicable (manuscripts), Not Applicable (copyright-release).

► A key question in behavioural finance is why prices in financial markets change. The field of behavioural finance evolved in an attempt to understand better…
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▼ A key question in behavioural finance is why prices
in financial markets change. The field of behavioural finance
evolved in an attempt to understand better and explain how
cognitive errors and emotions influence investors' decision-making
processes. Behavioural finance is the study of the psychological
effects of market events on investors that affect finance
decisions. It is not a new field of study, but more emphasis has
been placed on this field of finance in the past two decades.
Behavioural finance explores the irrational nature of investors'
decisions. The primary objective of the research was to provide an
understanding of the psychological impact of people on prices in
financial markets. The secondary objectives are
to provide a brief history of behavioural
finance; to show that there are alternatives
to the efficient markets theory; and to
demonstrate the impact of popular models on
prices. The report was compiled based on a
literature study on the topic of behavioural finance. The purpose
of the literature study was to provide sufficient information to
meet the objectives of the study as set out above. The following
sources were used: published
articles; textbooks; and
the Internet. The efficient
market hypothesis and the CAPM are challenged by behavioural
finance. Prices of speculative assets do not always reflect
fundamental values. The perceptions of investors play an important
role in the determination of prices. Hence, when there are market
crashes on the equities markets, the contagion effect amongst
investors should not be underestimated. It is shown in this report
that portfolio insurance is an important contributing factor to the
magnitude of any crash on equities markets. Dividends are an
important determinant for the fundamental value of shares. This
contrasts with the revenue model that is used to value new economy
shares, such as Internet companies. It is also clear that investors
expect to receive a dividend. In this report, various theories
strongly suggest investors' preference for dividends. These include
the self-control and prospect theories, regret-aversion and the
clientele effect. Changes in dividends affect share prices. A
decrease in the dividend of a company is a clear signal to
investors that the share price is overvalued. Movements in share
prices are therefore at least partially the result of changes in
dividends. Investment strategies that can be followed by investors
include the following: It may help to acquire
closed-end fund shares at the listing of a new fund. The research
shows that initially closed-end funds trade at a premium of up to
ten per cent, but within 180 days, the premium evaporates and the
fund starts to trade at a discount. The
optimal strategy for sophisticated investors is a strategy that
involves market timing with increased exposures to shares that have
fallen, and decreased exposure to shares after they have risen in
price. Individual investors…
Advisors/Committee Members: Lambrecht, H.A (advisor).

Studies on behavioural habit open an avenue for research in different fields. It gives a lot of information regarding the living status of the children…
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▼

Studies on behavioural habit open an avenue for
research in different fields. It gives a lot of information
regarding the living status of the children and also the various
types of hazards that affect the school going children. The present
study focused on the school going children of Tirunelveli opens a
lot of unknown fact to the society. The environmental condition
that is prevailed in the school environment is entirely different
and a unique one for its own. The study observed a lot of physical,
physiological, biochemical disorders among the school children.
newlineHealthy society is a wealthy society and children are the
important components of the society. The incidence of overweight
and obesity among children of Tirunelveli city is (14%) higher than
the national average in 2003. The incidence of overweight and
obesity are very high among males (14.2%) who are within the age
group of 13-17 years. In female the obeic percentage observed was
12.8%. The obeic persons identified in the present study hails from
economically sound families, which is a nuclear one in which both
the parents are earning members. Both the parents are literate,
mostly professionals or business magnets of the town. Since these
obeic students hail from rich family they enjoy all sorts of
sophistication in home as well as outside and this leads to
immobility, resulted in obesity. They consume energy rich, fat rich
diet that further aggravates the status of obesity. newlineAnother
major cause of obesity is decreased physical activity. Most of the
overweight and obese children have sedentary behavior with less
physical activity. There is lack of physical activities both in
school and within the home environment. Technological advancement
has caused this factor together with the security risk that the
children are exposed to whenever they are away from home. Walking
activity is limited or totally nil and most of the affluent
students use vehicle for their mobility.

P, S. A. (2011). Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits
on the physical and physiological status of the school children of
Tirunelveli;. (Thesis). Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. Retrieved from http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/18540

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

P, Stephen Azariah. “Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits
on the physical and physiological status of the school children of
Tirunelveli;.” 2011. Thesis, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/18540.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

P, Stephen Azariah. “Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits
on the physical and physiological status of the school children of
Tirunelveli;.” 2011. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

P SA. Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits
on the physical and physiological status of the school children of
Tirunelveli;. [Internet] [Thesis]. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University; 2011. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/18540.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

P SA. Influence of the westernised culture and dietary habits
on the physical and physiological status of the school children of
Tirunelveli;. [Thesis]. Manonmaniam Sundaranar University; 2011. Available from: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/18540

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

► This study aims to identify the factors that are of influence on parenting stress in parents of autistic children. Previous studies have found that parents…
(more)

▼ This study aims to identify the factors that are of influence on parenting stress in parents of autistic children. Previous studies have found that parents of autistic children experience more parenting stress than parents of children without autism or other diagnoses. Parenting stress can result in negative outcomes for the family as stressed parents tend to provide less effective stimulation for the development of the child. Stressed parents also have a higher risk of becoming depressed and having a decreased physical health.
The influence of children’s age, parental educational level, the behavioural problems, autistic symptoms of the child and of their parents, on parenting stress were investigated in a group of 39 autistic Dutch children. Children were between the ages of 8 and 17 years old. A control group of non-autistic children (n = 84, Age min = 9, max = 14) was used to examine whether or not parenting stress was higher among the parents of the autistic children. Parenting stress was quantified using the Nijmeegse Ouderlijke Stress Index, behavioural problems with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Autism Quotient-test was used to measure the severity of autistic symptoms in the children and parents.
Results indicated that: (1) The parents of the autistic children reported significantly higher levels of parenting stress than the parents of the non-autistic children. (2) Higher levels of education in mothers and more severe autistic symptoms in the autistic children and parents is a significant predictor for the level of parenting stress. (3) Behavioural problems of the autistic children were significantly related to parenting stress.
These results confirm previous research, but also shed new light on factors associated with parenting stress in parents of autistic children. This knowledge can be used in psycho-education, prevention and intervention methods for parents of autistic children.
Advisors/Committee Members: Zantinge, Gemma (advisor).

► Psi is the phenomenon of apparently responding to or receiving information by means other than the recognised senses. Psi information may influence human behaviour, without…
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▼ Psi is the phenomenon of apparently responding to or receiving information by means other than the recognised senses. Psi information may influence human behaviour, without the individual intending this or even being aware of it. This thesis seeks to investigate nonintentional behavioural responses to psi. We present five empirical studies that investigated nonintentional behavioural responses to psi information. In each study, the psi information was hidden from participants, in that the participants neither had sensory access to it, nor did they know that it existed. Two different combinations of psi information and a behavioural response were examined. The first was the influence of hidden psi information on psychological task performance. The second was the influence of covert, remote observation by hidden observers on the social facilitation effect. In all the studies, the effects of individual differences in participants’ personalities were also considered. In Experiment 1 we investigated whether hidden targets influenced participants’ judgements of the lengths of lines. There was no overall psi effect, but we found a replication of a response bias effect and a significant correlation between psi and participants’ extraversion. In Experiment 2 we investigated whether hidden targets influenced participants’ speed on a maths task. There was no overall psi effect and no correlations between personality and psi scores. We reviewed previous research literature on social facilitation from the novel angle of investigating whether being watched can, in and of itself, lead to the social facilitation effect. Experiments 3, 4, and 5 developed the paradigm of testing for a social facilitation effect from remote observation, investigating whether remote observation leads to the same behavioural changes as knowingly being observed by a physically present person. We compared participants’ performance on psychological tasks under different observation conditions: alone, remotely observed by a hidden observer, and observed by a physically present observer. The expected social facilitation effect was not found in these experiments, leading to a series of improvements to the sampling, methodology, and tasks over the course of these experiments. As the social facilitation effect from a physically present observer was not reliably replicated, these experiments were not conclusive tests of whether there is a social facilitation effect from remote observation. However, there was an indication in Experiment 3 that remote observation does not exert a significant behavioural effect. Considered together, our studies explored novel approaches to examining nonintentional behavioural responses to psi. The significant correlation between participants’ extraversion and psi is, to our knowledge, the first time this effect has been found in a nonintentional psi experiment. This, and the replication of the response bias effect, represent important advances in parapsychology. Our experiments are also the first to test the assumption, inherent in…

► A key question in behavioural finance is why prices in financial markets change. The field of behavioural finance evolved in an attempt to understand better…
(more)

▼ A key question in behavioural finance is why prices in
financial markets change. The field of behavioural finance evolved
in an attempt to understand better and explain how cognitive errors
and emotions influence investors' decision-making processes.
Behavioural finance is the study of the psychological effects of
market events on investors that affect finance decisions. It is not
a new field of study, but more emphasis has been placed on this
field of finance in the past two decades. Behavioural finance
explores the irrational nature of investors' decisions. The primary
objective of the research was to provide an understanding of the
psychological impact of people on prices in financial markets. The
secondary objectives are to provide a brief
history of behavioural finance; to show that
there are alternatives to the efficient markets theory;
and to demonstrate the impact of popular
models on prices. The report was compiled
based on a literature study on the topic of behavioural finance.
The purpose of the literature study was to provide sufficient
information to meet the objectives of the study as set out above.
The following sources were used: published
articles; textbooks; and
the Internet. The efficient
market hypothesis and the CAPM are challenged by behavioural
finance. Prices of speculative assets do not always reflect
fundamental values. The perceptions of investors play an important
role in the determination of prices. Hence, when there are market
crashes on the equities markets, the contagion effect amongst
investors should not be underestimated. It is shown in this report
that portfolio insurance is an important contributing factor to the
magnitude of any crash on equities markets. Dividends are an
important determinant for the fundamental value of shares. This
contrasts with the revenue model that is used to value new economy
shares, such as Internet companies. It is also clear that investors
expect to receive a dividend. In this report, various theories
strongly suggest investors' preference for dividends. These include
the self-control and prospect theories, regret-aversion and the
clientele effect. Changes in dividends affect share prices. A
decrease in the dividend of a company is a clear signal to
investors that the share price is overvalued. Movements in share
prices are therefore at least partially the result of changes in
dividends. Investment strategies that can be followed by investors
include the following: It may help to acquire
closed-end fund shares at the listing of a new fund. The research
shows that initially closed-end funds trade at a premium of up to
ten per cent, but within 180 days, the premium evaporates and the
fund starts to trade at a discount. The
optimal strategy for sophisticated investors is a strategy that
involves market timing with increased exposures to shares that have
fallen, and decreased exposure to shares after they have risen in
price. Individual investors…
Advisors/Committee Members: Lambrecht, H.A. (advisor).

▼ Objective: To assess analgesia of intra-articularly administered opioid morphine and to assess specific pain behavioural parameters in horses with experimentally induced acute synovitis.
Study design: double blinded cross-over clinical study
Animals: eight warm blood horses (mares)
Procedure: Lameness was induced in each horse via injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the tarsocrural joint. One hour after LPS injection the horses were treated with an intra-articular injection of morphine (120 mg diluted with NaCl to a solution of 20 ml) or saline (20 ml) as control. The horses underwent three behavioural tests: human approach test, carrot test and palpation of the painful area test before (baseline) and at 4, 8 and 28 hours after LPS injection. At eight hours after LPS injection the horses underwent a fourth test named novel object test. Video recordings of the basic maintenance behaviour of the horses were made before (baseline) and at 5.15 or 6.5, 12 and 29.15 or 30.5 hours after LPS injection.Data are reported as mean ± SEM and were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Differences were considered significant at P < 0,05.
Results: The results of this study showed several significant differences between the morphine group and the control (placebo) group during the behavioural tests and during the behavioural observations in the box. The horses in the morphine group had significant lower average percentages of non-weight bearing on the injected limb with regards to the horses in the control group during the human approach test and the carrot test at 4 and 8 hours and the behavioural observations in the box at 5.0-6.5 and 12 hours after LPS injection. Palpation of the injected limb led to significant lower scores during treatment conditions at the lateral and medial palpation compared to the control group at 4 hours after LPS injection. During the behavioural observations in the box the morphine group had a significant higher average percentage of foraging activity and a lower average percentage lying down at 5.0-6.5 hours after LPS injection. There was a strong trend for the average percentage walk; the horses in the morphine group had higher average percentage walking with regards to the horses in the control group at 12 hours after LPS injection.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Our results support the practice of intra-articular administration of morphine to reduce pain in horses with acute synovitis. We concluded that intra-articularly administered morphine is a potent analgesic medication for acute synovitis in horses.
Furthermore, this study established the value of some specific easy to assess objective behavioural parameters in determining equine acute limb pain in horses. We concluded that decreased foraging activity, increased percentage lying down, non-weight bearing on painful limb and reaction to palpation of the painful area are valuable specific pain behavioural parameters in horses with acute synovitis
Advisors/Committee Members: Dierendonck, M. van, Loon, J.P.A.M. van.

This work characterized the ability of mice to respond for conditioned reinforcement, a phenomenon that can be used to investigate neural substrates of incentive learning.…
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▼

This work characterized the ability of mice to respond for conditioned reinforcement, a
phenomenon that can be used to investigate neural substrates of incentive learning. In both
C57Bl/6 and CD1 mice, a reward-associated stimulus acted as a conditioned reinforcer (CR). Responding was stable over multiple test days, enhanced in CD1 mice by the dopamine
transporter (DAT) blocker methylphenidate, and was extinguished when responding no longer produced the CR. However, transgenic C57Bl/6 mice overexpressing DAT, which decreased striatal dopamine by 40% responded normally for CR. Therefore, these results suggest that mice can be used to study brain mechanisms of incentive motivation. However, the choice of mouse strain in this paradigm is important as outbred CD1 mice appeared more susceptible to a DAT blocker compared to the inbred C57Bl/6 strain. These results also suggest that selective responding for a CR remains intact in a chronically hypodopaminergic state.

Browne, J. D. C. (2012). Acquisition and Responding for Conditioned Reinforcement in the Mouse: Effects of Methylphenidate, and the Role of the Dopamine Transporter. (Masters Thesis). University of Toronto. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1807/33367

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Browne, James Donald Caleb. “Acquisition and Responding for Conditioned Reinforcement in the Mouse: Effects of Methylphenidate, and the Role of the Dopamine Transporter.” 2012. Masters Thesis, University of Toronto. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/1807/33367.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Browne, James Donald Caleb. “Acquisition and Responding for Conditioned Reinforcement in the Mouse: Effects of Methylphenidate, and the Role of the Dopamine Transporter.” 2012. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Browne JDC. Acquisition and Responding for Conditioned Reinforcement in the Mouse: Effects of Methylphenidate, and the Role of the Dopamine Transporter. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of Toronto; 2012. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/33367.

Council of Science Editors:

Browne JDC. Acquisition and Responding for Conditioned Reinforcement in the Mouse: Effects of Methylphenidate, and the Role of the Dopamine Transporter. [Masters Thesis]. University of Toronto; 2012. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/33367

Massey University

24.
Foster, Nicole Anne.
An investigation of early sudden gains in cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression : client and within-therapy predictors of change.

▼ Research into discontinuous change patterns across therapeutic treatment has indicated that clients who experience non-linear change patterns (e.g., „depression spikes‟, „transient worsening‟, and „sudden gains‟) have comparatively better outcomes in therapy (Haas, Hill, Lambert & Morrell, 2002; Hayes, Laurenceau, Feldman, Strauss & Cardaciotto, 2007; Illardi & Craighead, 1994; Thompson, Thompson & Gallagher-Thompson, 1995). The focus of the current study is on the discontinuous change patterns that have been identified as sudden gains, where a client shows a large symptom improvement from session to session of therapy (Tang & DeRubeis, 1999). Research into the phenomena of sudden gains has indicated that they are associated with better outcomes within therapy and post therapy; they may help identify clients who will respond favourably to therapy; and that they may provide further clarification around change mechanisms and processes within therapy. The current study had two aims: (1) to investigate the client factors that may predict sudden gains in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for depression; and (2) to investigate the within-therapy factors that may be associated with sudden gains within CBT for depression.
Through an overarching depression study at the School of Psychology, Massey University, a final sample of 28 clients experiencing their first episode of Major Depression (MDE) were recruited. They participated in 20 free sessions and two follow-up sessions of CBT for depression. Depression severity was measured at every session using the Beck Depression Inventory – Second Edition (BDI-II). Attributional style was measured at six time points using the Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ). Homework was measured at up to 18 time points using the Homework Rating Scale – Second Edition (HRS-II) – Client Version. A longitudinal multi level design method was used to analyse the data. 42.9% (n=12) of the clients experienced a sudden gain and these clients experienced a faster rate of improvement in depression severity across treatment. Clients‟ attributional style at intake moderated the relationship between sudden gains and rates of change in depression severity across treatment. No moderating relationship was found with either initial symptom severity or co-morbid status at intake and sudden gains and improvement in therapy. Within therapy variables such as attributional style change and homework beliefs across therapy did have a moderating effect on the relationship between sudden gains and improvement in depression severity across treatment. Clinical considerations and implications for future research are discussed.

► Behavioural inhibition is the ability to suppress irrelevant behaviours that are either unsafe or are inappropriate for the task at hand. Neuropsychological studies have linked…
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▼ Behavioural inhibition is the ability to suppress irrelevant behaviours that are either unsafe or are inappropriate for the task at hand. Neuropsychological studies have linked behavioural inhibition primarily to the actions of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the hippocampus (HPC), as well as several additional regions of the brain. The current investigation addressed the role of the mPFC-hippocampal pathway on behavioural inhibition within the place-preference task. The task required rats to enter and wait for two seconds within a defined region within a circular maze for food reward. Muscimol, a GABA-A agonist, was used to create a transient block of the prelimbic cortex (PL) within the mPFC to examine its effects on both behaviour and on hippocampal electrophysiology. Recording electrodes were surgically implanted into the dorsal and ventral hippocampal CA1. The rationale for this line of inquiry stems from a growing body of research purporting a link between the mPFC and the HPC in terms of theta-coordinated communication between the two regions during mnemonic tasks. When muscimol was infused into the PL, rats had a markedly decreased ability to remain within a circularly-defined goal region for the two-seconds required to obtain a food reward. The question that arose from this finding was whether or not transient lesions to the PFC resulted in the observed behaviour because the PFC was acting through non-hippocampal regions to inhibit animals’ movement within the goal region, or was a signal sent from the mPFC so as to influence the dorsal and/or ventral HPC via their inputs so as to disrupt behaviour through hippocampal mechanisms. To address this query, data was analyzed in two ways. The first method was to look at two second blocks of time that corresponded to only correct responses across trial number, time segment and effect of drug on theta amplitude and frequency. The second method focused on the first one second of entry into the goal region to look at the effects of lesions to the PL for both correct responses and incorrect responses. Contrary to expectations, inhibiting the mPFC with muscimol did not result in significant changes to either the power of theta or the frequency within both the dorsal and ventral CA1 in the first method of analysis. In contrast, ANOVA analyses on the one second blocks of data revealed that a decrease in dorsal CA1 theta frequency was associated with a subsequent incorrect response. Correlating hippocampal theta to behaviour produced mixed results that were inconclusive. The current investigation demonstrates that the PL plays a key role in behavioural inhibition. However, it does not provide conclusive evidence that the HPC has a role in behavioural inhibition, at least with regard to the completion of the goal in the place preference task, if theta is a marker for behavioural inhibition.
Advisors/Committee Members: Bilkey, David (advisor).

Chadha, S. A. (2011). Transient Lesions of the Prelimbic Cortex Result in a Decrease in Behavioural Inhibition in Rats Within the Place-Preference Task
. (Masters Thesis). University of Otago. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1706

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Chadha, Sumeer Alexander. “Transient Lesions of the Prelimbic Cortex Result in a Decrease in Behavioural Inhibition in Rats Within the Place-Preference Task
.” 2011. Masters Thesis, University of Otago. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1706.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Chadha, Sumeer Alexander. “Transient Lesions of the Prelimbic Cortex Result in a Decrease in Behavioural Inhibition in Rats Within the Place-Preference Task
.” 2011. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Chadha SA. Transient Lesions of the Prelimbic Cortex Result in a Decrease in Behavioural Inhibition in Rats Within the Place-Preference Task
. [Internet] [Masters thesis]. University of Otago; 2011. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1706.

Council of Science Editors:

Chadha SA. Transient Lesions of the Prelimbic Cortex Result in a Decrease in Behavioural Inhibition in Rats Within the Place-Preference Task
. [Masters Thesis]. University of Otago; 2011. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10523/1706

University of Waterloo

26.
Sendzik, Taryn.
An Examination of Planned Quit Attempts among Ontario Smokers and Its Impact on Abstinence.

► Background: Planning has long been assumed to be an important element of any successful quit smoking strategy. However, recent research findings indicate that unplanned, or…
(more)

▼ Background: Planning has long been assumed to be an important element of any successful quit smoking strategy. However, recent research findings indicate that unplanned, or spontaneous quit attempts, may lead to more successful and longer cessation periods than planned attempts. This calls into question continued advice to plan and the validity of planning based behaviour change theories.
Objectives: To: 1) assess the prevalence of planning; 2) identify the attributes of planners; 3) examine the association of planning and intentions to quit; 4) examine the association of planning and use of quit aids; and 5) examine the impact of planning on smoking cessation outcomes.
Methods: Data from the longitudinal Ontario Tobacco Survey (OTS) were examined. Analyses consisted of 418 smokers who made a planned or unplanned quit attempt between their waves 4 and 5 survey response. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using specialized survey analysis procedures to account for the complex sampling and design features of the OTS. Multiple Imputation (MI) was used to fill in missing data to reduce bias.
Results: The prevalence of planning among Ontario smokers who made a quit attempt in the past six months was 70%. Regression models indicated that women, smokers who felt that it would be “very hard to quit”, and those with intentions to quit in the next 6 months had higher odds of making a planned quit attempt. Individuals who made a planned quit attempt had increased odds for using a quit aid compared to those making unplanned attempts. Univariate regression models indicated that planned attempts did not result in higher odds ratios for being abstinent for at least one week and at least one month.
Conclusions: The present results suggest that a majority of smokers who made a quit attempt did so with a plan. Planned quit attempts had higher odds use of any quit aid compared with unplanned attempts. Planning was not found to increase the odds of being abstinent compared to unplanned attempts. Although more research is needed, the current study contributes to the dialogue of planning and smoking cessation.

Sendzik T. An Examination of Planned Quit Attempts among Ontario Smokers and Its Impact on Abstinence. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2009. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10012/4271.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Sendzik T. An Examination of Planned Quit Attempts among Ontario Smokers and Its Impact on Abstinence. [Thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2009. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10012/4271

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

University of Waterloo

27.
Dionne, Jennifer Kathleen.
Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality.

► Afferent somatosensory inputs ascend from the periphery to the cortex carrying information about touch that is critical for planning motor responses. At the cortical level,…
(more)

▼ Afferent somatosensory inputs ascend from the periphery to the cortex carrying information about touch that is critical for planning motor responses. At the cortical level, this information is subject to modulation from its earliest arrival in somatosensory cortex where factors such as task-relevance begin to shape how the sensory signals are processed. The goal of such modulation is largely to facilitate the extraction of relevant sensory information (and suppression of irrelevant signals) early in the processing stream, and these functions are in part carried out by top-down influences from cortical and sub-cortical structures. Efforts to understand the mechanisms contributing to modulation of sensory-specific cortex have revealed that crossmodal signals (i.e. simultaneously presented stimuli from a different modality) can also influence early sensory processing, but the precise nature of this modulation and what may drive it is largely unknown. It is the purpose of this thesis to investigate the modulation of somatosensory cortex, specifically how task-relevant modulation of somatosensory cortex might be influenced by crossmodal (visual) stimuli, and whether specific task requirements have any bearing on SI excitability. The studies comprising this thesis aim to address these gaps in our mechanistic understanding of the networks involved in modulating somatosensory cortex. Studies 1 and 2 employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate how task-relevant visual and vibrotactile stimuli modulate somatosensory cortex and to probe the role of a frontoparietal network in mediating this modulation. Studies 3 and 4 also used EEG to determine how manipulating the relevance of the stimuli affects the modulation of somatosensory event-related potentials (ERPs), and to probe how task-specific sensory-motor requirements mediate excitability in somatosensory cortex as well as frontal and parietal regions. The results of this thesis provide insight into the factors that modulate somatosensory cortex and the role of a fronto-parietal network in subserving these modulations.

Dionne, J. K. (2011). Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality. (Thesis). University of Waterloo. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10012/5755

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Dionne, Jennifer Kathleen. “Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality.” 2011. Thesis, University of Waterloo. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/10012/5755.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Dionne, Jennifer Kathleen. “Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality.” 2011. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Dionne JK. Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2011. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10012/5755.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Dionne JK. Frontal and parietal contributions to the modulation of somatosensory cortex by relevance and modality. [Thesis]. University of Waterloo; 2011. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/10012/5755

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

► In order to reduce environmental impact caused by the production of animal protein (meat, fish, dairy), the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Min.…
(more)

▼ In order to reduce environmental impact caused by the production of animal protein (meat, fish, dairy), the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Min. I&M) seeks to stimulate Dutch consumers in lowering their intake of animal protein and shifting towards a more plant-based diet.
According to research (Bakker and Dagevos, 2010), the growing group of Dutch flexitarians – people that omit meat from their diet for at least one day a week (77% of population) – is the most promising group to target for a change of food consumption behaviour. This is especially valid for the group of intentional flexitarians that has environmental, personal health and/or animal welfare motivations for reducing their meat consumption. However, stimulating more sustainable food consumption is a complex social dilemma, because some degree of behavioural change needs to be achieved. A big challenge is the fact that collective interests like sustainability often are in conflict with personal interests like convenience.
The goal of this project is to: ‘Design a product or service to encourage Dutch intentional flexitarians to reduce their consumption of meat and support them in pursuing a flexitarian eating pattern.’ Eventually, on the long term, this should contribute to a reduction of environmental impact caused by food consumption behaviour.
Analysis
Insights from the analysis phase show that Dutch intentional flexitarians are motivated to reduce their consumption of meat, because they know that a change of food consumption behaviour will benefit the environment, their personal health and/or animal welfare. However, when time is running short, momentary cravings and convenience of not having to search for a sustainable meal choice become more important than their wish to eat socially responsible. They often don’t know what to cook or feel like they have to compromise on taste when cooking vegetarian. They do not mind eating meatless meals, as long as they are still tasty. Moreover, deep-seated habits and a preference for convenience often lead to undesired meal-choices.
Design Vision
The analysis identified challenges that complicate maintaining a flexitarian eating-pattern. Combining the conclusions of the literature study and user studies resulted in three relevant design directions. After evaluation of these directions, it was decided to continue within the design direction of ‘Consciousness of taste and flavours’. This direction tried to find a solution for the conflicting concerns of ‘acting socially responsible’ vs. ‘variation in meals is necessary’, ‘meals should always be tasty’ and ‘vegetarians meals are flavourless’. The following design goal was formulated:
‘To reduce environmental impact of food consumption, we want to encourage Dutch intentional flexitarians to reduce their meat consumption by making them more conscious about flavours and personal taste.’
Conceptualisation
The design direction of Taste & Flavours was further explored through literature. Combined with two creative sessions, this resulted…
Advisors/Committee Members: Tromp, N., Bakker, C.A., Haenen, I.T.W.C..

► The lives of young people in Khayelitsha are characterised by a series of intersecting challenges. These include inadequate access to education, limited opportunities to find…
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▼ The lives of young people in Khayelitsha are characterised by a series of intersecting challenges. These include inadequate access to education, limited opportunities to find gainful employment, exposure to violence and the risk of contracting HIV. Several conventional avenues of transition to adulthood, for example achieving financial independence, moving out of the parental home or getting married, remain unavailable to many. The majority thus find themselves in a situation of waithood, an interminable period between childhood and adulthood characterised by extreme uncertainty. This thesis takes up questions of what it means to be a young man or woman navigating towards adulthood in this context of socioeconomic marginalisation. In particular, it explores the ways that youth negotiate the tensions between the structures that shape their lives and their opportunities for agency within the domains of gendered identities and sexual partnerships. Public health research and intervention with youth tends to rely more heavily on approaches underpinned by individual-level behaviour change theories, with lesser albeit growing attention paid to the structural forces that shape young lives. This thesis aims to balance the reading of individuals' capacity for agency in decision-making, with the broader structural forces that shape their life trajectories. To this end, a longitudinal, ethnographic approach was employed to capture nuances of context and experience as they unfolded and shifted through time and space. The data presented here is drawn from 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork with young people in the neighbourhood of Town Two, Khayelitsha, primarily collected between 2014 and 2015. Youth transition to adulthood is explored in the two interrelated domains of gendered identity and sexual partnerships. Within these domains, living up to individual and social ideals associated with masculinity and femininity is persistently challenging. Faced with these challenges, young people employ creative and dynamic strategies in their endeavours to maximize the precarious gains they make in their transition towards adulthood. Broadly speaking, these strategies include those linked to their physical bodies, sexual and social networks and the ways that they invoke ideas about what it means to be a young South African citizen. The findings highlight that in their transitions to adulthood, youth in Khayelitsha are neither complete victims, nor entirely free agents with the capacity to radically change their circumstances. This thesis ends by offering some recommendations about how public health programming might take into account the lived experiences of youth as they navigate the transition to adulthood in this context.
Advisors/Committee Members: Colvin, Christopher J (advisor), Harrison, Abigail (advisor).

Swartz, A. (2017). Coming of age in Khayelitsha: gendered identity, sexual partnerships and the transition to adulthood. (Thesis). University of Cape Town. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25653

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Swartz, Alison. “Coming of age in Khayelitsha: gendered identity, sexual partnerships and the transition to adulthood.” 2017. Thesis, University of Cape Town. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25653.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Swartz, Alison. “Coming of age in Khayelitsha: gendered identity, sexual partnerships and the transition to adulthood.” 2017. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Swartz A. Coming of age in Khayelitsha: gendered identity, sexual partnerships and the transition to adulthood. [Internet] [Thesis]. University of Cape Town; 2017. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25653.

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

Council of Science Editors:

Swartz A. Coming of age in Khayelitsha: gendered identity, sexual partnerships and the transition to adulthood. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town; 2017. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25653

Note: this citation may be lacking information needed for this citation format:Not specified: Masters Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation

University of Edinburgh

30.
Behrendt, Hannah Ariadne.
Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health.

► Research in judgement and decision-making has identified numerous ways in which human decisions are likely to be biased, deviating systematically from the behaviour one would…
(more)

▼ Research in judgement and decision-making has identified numerous ways in which human decisions are likely to be biased, deviating systematically from the behaviour one would expect if humans were fully rational 'Econs', maximizing their utility with perfect self-control. Suboptimal decision-making as a result of these biases imposes large costs on individuals and society. In this thesis I investigate experimentally how decision-making can be improved, focusing on the health domain, where errors ultimately become a matter of life and death. Chapter 1: Providing feedback has been shown to be an effective way to change behaviour across several domains, including energy use and the workplace. However, there is little evidence on the effect of providing feedback in high stakes environments, where people make risky decisions with potentially catastrophic losses. In the first chapter I conduct a field experiment that provides feedback and information in such a context - emergency healthcare. Understanding the drivers of patients' decision-making relating to their demand for healthcare services and how they can be directed to the most appropriate services at any given time is a challenge for health systems across many countries. This trial aimed to reduce avoidable Emergency Department (A&E) attendances by sending a personal feedback letter to people who recently attended an Emergency Department but whose health concerns could have been dealt with elsewhere. Patients were randomly allocated to either receive a follow-up letter with information on alternatives to A&E or no letter (usual care). Overall, I do not find a statistically significant difference between the re-attendance rates of patients who did and did not receive the letters. However, the effect of the intervention interacted significantly with patient age, especially in men. I develop a conceptual framework that explores possible explanations for these heterogeneous effects. Chapter 2: Policy interventions drawing on insights from behavioural sciences are increasingly popular and have been successfully applied across a number of different policy areas. However, little attention has been paid to the extent to which the effects of repeated behavioural interventions are sustained over time. In the second chapter I study this question through a natural field experiment in the English National Health Service (NHS). The intervention consists of changing the salience of waiting time on the clinicians' e-Referral Service (ERS) interface. Waiting longer can negatively affect patients' health gains from receiving treatment, so referring patients to services with shorter waiting times can be of benefit. I find, through a stepped wedge trial, that putting a simple alert against services with high waiting times leads to a 35 percent reduction in the share of referrals to these services. The effect of the intervention is sustained over time and does not vary with prior referral habits. A small, low-cost intervention increasing the salience of waiting time to clinicians has a…

Behrendt, H. A. (2018). Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health. (Doctoral Dissertation). University of Edinburgh. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31524

Chicago Manual of Style (16th Edition):

Behrendt, Hannah Ariadne. “Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health.” 2018. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Edinburgh. Accessed May 25, 2019.
http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31524.

MLA Handbook (7th Edition):

Behrendt, Hannah Ariadne. “Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health.” 2018. Web. 25 May 2019.

Vancouver:

Behrendt HA. Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health. [Internet] [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Edinburgh; 2018. [cited 2019 May 25].
Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31524.

Council of Science Editors:

Behrendt HA. Experiments on behaviour and decision making in health. [Doctoral Dissertation]. University of Edinburgh; 2018. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/1842/31524